Sunday, 15 July 2018

Superhero Night wrap-up

The Medicine Hat Mavericks scored all 10 of their runs while wearing the one-of-a-kind Superhero Night jerseys Saturday, but the night's MVP? That's right. Fischer.

I don't really know Fischer. I put out the call for someone who might be apt to throw out the first pitch at the baseball game and he was the perfect candidate.

His mom wasn't sure how he'd feel being the centre of attention for the 1,000-plus fans who came out. Turns out it was no big deal.

Fischer was born with Noonan Syndrome, survived open-heart surgery at four months old and has had a lot of surgeries and hospital visits since then. At six years old he's dealt with far more than most adults in terms of his health, but he's still just a kid who loves making people laugh.

I asked what his favourite superhero was, and he said Batman. So I went searching for Batman quotes and found this: "It's not who I am underneath, but what I do that defines me." I think Fischer found the right superhero.

Saturday was pretty magical. The weather had been sweltering for most of the week but calmed down to the mid-20's for game day. There was even a bit of wind. Maybe a touch cool for some folks, but if you were wearing a huge costume? Darn near perfect.

Everywhere we looked there were friendly faces. Friends wearing their #Dominicstrong shirts. Friends who'd never been to a Mavericks game but felt this was something worth supporting. Friends who we hadn't yet met.

Samantha, of course, dressed her part. She wore a #Dominicstrong onesie and a tutu, Wonder Woman shoes that I could barely get her feet into, and a cape. Her brother's cape. With the super-D logo. Sure enough, just like Dominic at the Duel It fundraiser in 2015, she didn't run out of energy until the whole night was over.

Fischer got things started, throwing out the first pitch like he'd done it a thousand times before. The Mavs then went out and pummeled the baseball the first three innings, before they had to switch back to their regular jerseys. They didn't score another run after they changed out of the comic-book inspired digs, but held on for a 10-5 victory over the Fort McMurray Giants.

Just as they did last year, the Mavericks presented a cheque for $1,500 for the Alberta Children's Hospital. We also got $147 in cash donations. But more than the money, we all made some fantastic memories.

Fischer is still holding on to those memories. His mom tells me he went to sleep holding the ball from that first pitch. And today he just wants to go outside and throw it around.